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Rangers have been busy in the transfer market this month as the Ibrox side have brought two players in and made a club-record sale during Gio van Bronckhorst’s first window.

The Gers have signed James Sands and John Souttar, with the latter arriving officially in the summer, and sold Nathan Patterson to Premier League side Everton, but it remains to be seen whether or not their business is over in January.

TemaSport recently reported that Hammarby forward Akinkunmi Amoo is one of the club’s targets heading into the final days of the month.

Next Ryan Kent

Gers boss van Bronckhorst could find his next wing wizard for the future by securing a deal to sign Amoo before the window slams shut.

Whilst it does not appear as though, as it stands, Ryan Kent will be on his way out of Ibrox this month, the winger is not guaranteed to stay in Glasgow forever and the club could find their long-term replacement by landing the 19-year-old Hammarby forward.

The Gers could sign the next Kent who can come in and learn from the ex-Liverpool man before potentially replacing him in the side further down the line,

Hammarby’s director of football, Jesper Jansson, previously lauded the young player for his impressive qualities on the ball, saying: 

“With Akin, we get an explosive, skilled and offensive player with a nice left foot. But we must remember that he has just turned 18, so we must have patience and work together to develop Akin’s top qualities.”

Do these keywords remind you of anyone? Kent has been described as “explosive” previously and is exceptional on the ball with his ability to dribble past players to create and score goals, completing 1.9 dribbles and 1.8 key passes per game in the Premiership last term.

Amoo admitted that he is compared to a current PSG star known for his dribbling, saying:  “I usually hear that I play like Leo Messi, so I am sometimes called ‘Little Messi’. He’s my role model.”

The 19-year-old has 13 goals and six assists since the start of the 2020/21 campaign for Hammarby, showing that he has been able to chip in with regular contributions in the final third. This suggests that he has the potential to grow into a player like Kent who is able to be a huge threat in attack by exciting fans and making a big impact in the opposition penalty area, which is why van Bronckhorst must sanction a swoop for him.

AND in other news,  Gvb “interested” in sealing 3rd Rangers signing at Ibrox, he could be Patterson 2.0…

Flocking to Twitter, these West Ham United fans have reacted to a transfer update involving their club and Flamengo striker Gabriel Barbosa.

David Moyes’s side, looking to end their year-long search for a new striker after the sale of Sebastien Haller last January, are reportedly eyeing Michail Antonio alternatives ahead of the winter window next month.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-updates/” title=”West Ham latest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

It is believed that one of West Ham’s transfer priorities is a forward alongside the addition of a new centre-half and potentially Jesse Lingard (The Evening Standard), with the likes of Adam Hlozek and Divock Origi apparently on the agenda (ExWHUemployee).

Other forwards are also being considered as Eurosport journalist Dean Jones shares the latest. According to his information, West Ham are keen on South American forward Barbosa who has been in fine form for Flamengo over 2021.

It is believed he could even become available on a loan deal as the Irons and Moyes weigh up short term striker additions.

Irons react…

Given Barbosa has racked up a brilliant 29 goals over the calendar year in all competitions, it’s hardly surprising that some supporters see him as a would-be ‘dream’ signing.

However, some also believe that a loan would be difficult to pull off – find all of their reactions to the development down below:

“This would be the dream for me”

Credit: @AlfieMax_WHU

“YEEEEEES GABIGOL”

Credit: @brad_hass4

“Get him in West ham”

Credit: @Jinglis01492553

“A loan would be awesome but I just don’t see it happening.”

Credit: @NeilFitzUk

“Loan would be excellent, but this reeks of Bacca!”

Credit: @WhufcSloth

“here we go again”

Credit: @whujoe

In other news: ‘Can’t wait’, ‘Best news today’…ExWHUemployee’s ‘amazing’ update has many West Ham fans buzzing, find out more here.

A major transfer update has emerged which will affect Rangers’ plans to bring one of their targets to Ibrox this month…

What’s the talk?

According to Dutch outlet AD, Gers target Joey Veerman is set to undergo a medical with PSV Eindhoven ahead of a €5.5m (£4.6m) switch from Heerenveen, with the report claiming that they have beaten Feyenoord to his signature.

The Scotsman have also carried a claim from the Netherlands stating that he is due to join PSV for a fee of €6m (£5m), having been heavily linked with a move to Ibrox in the summer.

Last month, journalist Pete O’Rourke touted him as a player who Giovanni van Bronckhorst would look to sign in his first transfer window in charge at the club.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “Veerman will definitely be high on the list of targets. They tried to sign him in the summer and he still remains high on their list of potential targets.

“With van Bronckhorst in there now, I think it just gives extra weight in maybe following up that interest in the Dutchman.”

This will infuriate the Gers

Van Bronckhorst is headed for his first disaster in Glasgow, as missing out on a deal for the Dutch midfielder could be a major blow for the club. O’Rourke claimed that he was one of their top targets for the January window and they are now set to watch him sign for another Eredivisie club instead of coming over to Scotland, which could alter their plans in the market.

This news will also surely infuriate Rangers fans as Veerman could have been a superb signing for the Scottish champions. He has proven his quality in the top division of Dutch football in recent years and shown that he can perform consistently to a high level.

Since the start of the 2019/20 campaign, the midfielder has produced 14 goals and 21 assists in 71 appearances whilst averaging a sublime WhoScored rating of 7.33. This season, he has averaged a rating of 7.32 from the website and provided three goals and six assists in 18 Eredivisie outings.

The 23-year-old could therefore have been an excellent addition to Van Bronckhorst’s side, as he is capable of delivering consistently strong performances whilst chipping in with vital contributions in the final third.

This is why Rangers fans will be infuriated by this news, as the club have allowed PSV to beat them in the race for his services. It also illustrates why this is a disaster for the Gers head coach, as he is missing out on what could have been a quality signing.

AND in other news, Rangers can brutally axe £5.6k-p/w dud if Van Bronckhorst signs beast who’s a “nightmare to mark”…

Paul Dummett is closing in on a return to action for Newcastle United, according to The Athletic’s Chris Waugh. 

The lowdown

Dummett is yet to feature for the Magpies this term, having sustained a calf injury in pre-season before he was hit with a ‘setback’ in the latter part of Steve Bruce’s tenure.

He started 14 Premier Leagues games in 2020/21, averaging 4.7 clearances (second in Newcastle’s squad), 2.6 successful aerial duels (fourth overall) and 1.1 tackles (joint-second) per 90 minutes (via WhoScored).

The 30-year-old’s £35,000-per-week contract is due to expire at the end of the season.

The latest

Waugh was asked by a fan in a Q&A for The Athletic on Monday what was ‘happening’ with Dummett, and even whether the Welshman could be ‘forced to retire’ – a scenario the player himself had considered following prolonged spells of injury anguish.

The journalist replied: “It has been a frustrating few months for Paul Dummett, who continues to be ravaged by injury problems.

“However, he did return to the grass last week and the indications I’ve received are that he could be in contention for selection within a matter of weeks, if not potentially even days. He suffered a calf problem during pre-season and then unfortunately had a setback during Bruce’s final few weeks, but he is closing in on a return.

“However, given his lack of action in recent months, and how susceptible he is to injuries, it may take him a little bit of time to get fully up to speed.”

The verdict

Mercifully for the struggling Magpies, the injury list is pretty thin at the moment. Dummett and Dwight Gayle are the only fitness-related absentees, and the latter is closing in on a return too (via Premier Injuries).

The Welshman said around this time last year that a prolonged spell on the sidelines had led him to contemplate retirement, so it feels vital that Newcastle manage his reintegration properly to avoid him breaking down again.

In the words of Steve Bruce, he’s a ‘terrific’ player who heads ‘everything’ away when he’s on form. The 30-year-old’ statistics back up his former manager’s comments,

In other news, Newcastle are desperate to sign this midfielder

West Bromwich Albion have been in a ‘will they, won’t they?’ saga with the transfer rumours surrounding Dwight Gayle and there have now been further reports connecting the Championship goal machine back to the club yet again.

West Brom have been heavily linked to offer a return opportunity for Dwight Gayle to assist the side in gaining promotion back into the Premier League this season and now that the 32-year-old has reportedly been made available for loan, it’s time for Ismael to swoop in for the striker.

The last time the £40k-per-week player went on loan from Newcastle to West Bromwich Albion was the 2018/19 season in the Championship where he scored 24 goals and bagged eight assists for the Baggies, albeit not enough to get them promoted that term when they finished fourth, losing to Aston Villa in the playoffs.

Now the Magpies centre forward could be set for a return if Valerien Ismael can seal the deal to bring him back to the club in the winter transfer window, as it appears Newcastle have given the green light for him to depart for the rest of the season.

Gayle’s former teammate and West Brom defender, Kyle Bartley, was full of praise for the striker calling him a “proven goalscorer” when he was asked about him in an interview, hailing qualities that would make him a phenomenal addition at the Hawthorns.

“Dwight is a proven goalscorer and he is always going to get you goals and his work rate off the ball is also immense.”

Fans have been buzzing at the speculation of a return for the former Baggies player, with many taking to social media to express their desire to get him back in January.

One Albion fan tweeted; “Gayle HAS to be better than Hugill and Zahpoor so yes. Wages though…. Hmmmm.”

West Brom are desperate to add a prolific goal scorer to their side in January, as they attempt to climb the table into one of the two automatic promotion spots.

Gayle does have the experience and tenacity to handle the Championship, with a proven record of scoring important goals in the second tier for both the Baggies and Newcastle.

Ismael will be working closely with the board to ensure that the right players are brought into the club in January and West Brom can get a healthy run of form going with more goals being scored and better finishing in the side going forward into the second half of the season.

It’s evident that their former loan star would fit the bill. They’ve scored 21 goals fewer than league leaders Fulham this term so need all the additional help they can get if they want to seal promotion back to the promised land of the Premier League.

Although Gayle hasn’t exactly been on fire for the Toon, failing to score this campaign, his tally of 59 Championship goals is something for fans to get excited about.

They simply have to sign him, or a player of his proven calibre, in order to better their current league position.

In other news: Lai still wants to sell the Baggies

According to reporter Niccolò Ceccarini, writing for TUTTOmercatoWEB, there has been another update in Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of striker Dusan Vlahovic.

The Lowdown: Spurs in Vlahovic race…

Links to the exciting Serbia international can be traced back all the way to middle of last summer as Tottenham eyed a striking alternative to superstar Harry Kane.

Long before Antonio Conte’s arrival at N17, managing director Fabio Paratici had his sights on Vlahovic, and there were even suggestions that an offer had been made (Fanta Calcio).

Whilst not going that far, The Telegraph backed Tottenham’s interest in signing the Serbian among other forward options amid his precarious contract situation at Fiorentina.

La Viola president Rocco Commisso recently confirmed that the 21-year-old rejected new contract offers to make him the highest-paid player in the club’s history, potentially boosting Spurs as they maintain their interest for Conte.

As per Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Spurs are now ‘perhaps the favourite’ to sign him and apparently meetings have already been held in London.

The Latest: Paratici and Conte ‘agreed’ on Vlahovic…

As per TMW and journalist Ceccarini, the Lilywhites are certainly eyeing a swoop, with both Conte and Paratici already ‘agreed’ on Tottenham’s ‘list of names’ to target.

One of them is Vlahovic and the reporter claimed that Spurs see him as ‘one of the right profiles’ to replace star striker Kane, who Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane called ‘amazing’.

They said that the England international ‘should leave next summer’ and this will allow Spurs to swoop for Vlahovic. It is even claimed that Tottenham could ‘invest a lot of money’ and it is a ‘track to be monitored carefully’.

The Verdict: Like-for-like?

If Tottenham’s chiefs have indeed ‘agreed’ to target Vlahovic as a possible replacement for Kane, we believe there is no better candidate.

Scoring an impressive 21 goals last season for Fiorentina, he has continued that fine form into 2021/22, with 10 strikes and an assist already in all competitions this term (Transfermarkt).

Lauded as ‘really exciting’ by Serie A expert Conor Clancy, it’s safe to say that Vlahovic is one of the brighest young forwards in world football and has even earned comparisons with Champions League superstar Erling Braut Haaland.

As developments continue to heat up, with Spurs allegedly among the favourites for his signature, we believe this is certainly one to keep an eye on, as his prospective arrival would certainly bolster Conte’s centre-forward options significantly.

In other news: Conte ‘green lights’ Spurs move with deal in the works to sign ‘extraordinary’ player, find out more here.

West Ham could make a move for Eddie Nketiah during the January transfer window after an insider dropped an exciting claim…

What’s the word?

The Irons have been linked with the young Arsenal forward in recent weeks but they face stiff competition from Premier League rivals Leeds United, where he has previously been on loan, and Crystal Palace.

According to the ever-reliable ExWHUemployee, the 22-year-old striker is a player that the Irons have looked at before, so there’s a chance they revisit that interest this winter.

After discussing another mooted target in fellow Gunners frontman Alexandre Lacazette, Ex commented on Nketiah.

“His teammate, that we have definitely shown an interest in before and have looked at quite a lot, Eddie Nketiah,” he revealed to ‘The West Ham Way’ podcast this week.

“His contract’s up in the summer. And I know from sources that we have had a strong interest in him before, so it wouldn’t surprise me if we did make a move for him.

“He would fit, with that age, he’s 22 possibly, young, pacey, works hard – a similar mode to Antonio, really.”

Striker solution?

Nketiah is certainly looking like a player that will be available to teams at the turn of the year.

Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth claimed the England U21 talisman is looking to leave the north London giants as there is no sign of a renewal ahead of January – foreign clubs are free to begin negotiations with him from then, too.

The fact that Ex has mentioned the club’s interest is certainly an exciting sign that things could happen as he’s one of the most trustworthy when it comes to anything at the London Stadium.

[snack-amp-story url = “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-west-ham-news-transfer-updates-gsb-kretinsky-moyes” title=”Read the latest West Ham news, transfer updates and much, much more!”]

But what will thrill the Hammers faithful even more is the possibility that they end their near two-year wait to find an alternative and backup option to Michail Antonio, 31, who has had injury struggles throughout his time at West Ham.

Furthermore, Nketiah has been likened to Jermain Defoe, on top of Ex’s Antonio comparison, and he has a very prolific record at youth level, both domestically (43 goals) and internationally (16 goals in 17 appearances).

The Irons are surely in pole position to secure him considering they occupy third place in the Premier League. They desperately need a striker this January and Nketiah could well be a bargain thanks to his contractual situation at Arsenal.

Those around east London should be excited by this claim.

AND in other news, Forget Kai Corbett: Moyes could have striker sensation in West Ham teen who’s “going right to the top”…

Paddy Kenny has claimed that Amanda Staveley will now be ‘furious’ with the new owners over a development at Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Staveley to be snubbed

As per the The Daily Mail, Staveley is set to be snubbed by the new owners in their hunt for someone to take the new chief executive role.

It is claimed that the businesswoman was expected to be handed the position as a reward for her role as the public face of the takeover by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium.

The Latest: Kenny reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, former Premier League goalkeeper Kenny, 43, has claimed that Staveley would be ‘furious’ if she is not given the role:

“Personally, I’d be absolutely livid.

“Obviously, we don’t know all the ins and outs and what’s been promised to her when they made the deal.

“But if she’s been told she’d get the job and now this has happened, she’ll be furious. She has done all the hard work in sorting this takeover out.

“We know how long that took so it could be a proper kick in the teeth if this does end up happening.”

The Verdict: Can still contribute

Even if Staveley is not made the new chief executive at St. James’ Park, she can still contribute to the North East club in other ways.

It was a pleasure for the Toon Army to see her in attendance during their 3-2 loss at home to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League last time out, and the way that she has communicated to the fans during the whole takeover process is already more than what Mike Ashley managed to do during his tenure.

Nonetheless, Staveley will no doubt be a key figure in the new era, and making her the new chief executive would only be a bonus.

In other news, find out what the immediate reaction was from players to Steve Bruce’s sacking here!

A fresh twist has emerged in Newcastle’s pursuit of a new manager regarding former Magpies coach Rafael Benitez.

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, the Tynesiders are yet to give up hope of being able to lure the Spaniard back to the club to lead them to survival this season in the Premier League.

The report claims that PIF have had him as their first choice to replace Steve Bruce since they completed the takeover and that a deal could still be possible despite him joining fellow English outfit Everton in the summer just gone.

Newcastle fans on cloud nine

Newcastle fans will surely be on cloud nine following this update. Some fans reacted to his switch to Goodison Park in the summer and were gutted after he went there instead of returning to St James’ Park. PIF are now trying to rectify the situation and appease those supporters who want him back at the club, despite it initially seeming unlikely due to his position at Everton.

The 61-year-old enjoyed a terrific spell on Tyneside as he managed the club for three-and-a-half years. He came in at the end of Newcastle’s 2015/16 relegation season, only losing three of the final 10 Premier League matches as the damage had been done prior to his arrival.

A Championship-winning campaign was then followed by 10th and 13th-placed finishes in the top flight, with Benitez leaving on good terms in 2019 to join Chinese Super League side DL Yifang. He ended his time at Newcastle with an average of 1.48 points per game across 146 matches.

Bruce replaced him and averaged just 1.15 points per game in 97 matches in charge, with Newcastle finishing 13th and 12th in the top flight in his two full seasons at the helm. The Magpies are currently 19th in the table after the 60-year-old led them to three draws and five defeats in eight games, culminating in his dismissal.

This is why fans would surely be delighted with a return to the club for the Spaniard. Even if it is on a short-term basis to help keep Newcastle in the Premier League before another manager comes in to take them forward under PIF, it could give the fans another season of Rafa to enjoy. However, the owners must now find a way to prise him away from Everton and relieve Graeme Jones of his caretaking duties in the next few weeks.

AND in other news, Contact made: PIF must seal dream Newcastle deal for £45m-rated “phenomenon”…

Celtic have been dealt a tough hand in Europe with Ange Postecoglou having to withstand the test of some troublesome sides.

The Hoops have already come unstuck against Real Betis and they will desperately need to improve when Bayer Leverkusen arrive at Parkhead.

On the chalkboard

Based on Celtic’s recent form, supporters should be incredibly fearful over what result may occur on Thursday evening.

They have lost to Livingston and drawn with Dundee United during their last two league fixtures so the omens don’t exactly bode well.

Postecoglou’s men did score three times against Betis but it would be a great surprise if the same eventuality occurred tomorrow night.

Celtic will still be missing Kyogo Furuhashi and it’s thought that Callum McGregor will almost certainly be absent again.

He sat out their last Europa League clash with what was thought to be a knock but he hasn’t played since.

Who plays instead of him will be a crucial point of debate for the manager because he simply hasn’t got it right in the last few weeks.

James McCarthy has been abject to say the least, being terrorised for his performances since a first start in the defeat at Livi. During that clash, the Irishman attempted no attacking actions and lost the ball on 15 occasions.

Sadly, the midfielder was average against Dundee United too, winning just 33.3% of his defensive duels last weekend.

The solution

With that in mind, Postecoglou should consider turning to Ismaila Soro on Thursday, especially in a game where the Bhoys are expected to do more work off the ball.

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Like McCarthy, Soro hasn’t been at his best this term and he was fortunate not to be sent off against Betis.

The Ivorian was keen to get stuck in and did make a number of impressive robust tackles. However, he is often caught out with his lack of discipline causing him to throw in challenges even when he’s already been booked.

That being said, the Celtic brute is clearly more dynamic and mean-mannered than McCarthy.

Described as a player with “explosive power” by former coach Ori Guttman, he has been compared to N’Golo Kante and it’s clear to see why.

Soro occupies little pockets of space that enables him to sweep up the play. He reads the game well and is traditionally in the right place at the right time.

The 23-year-old knows what it takes to put in a defensive masterclass in Europe too. When they beat Lille 3-2 last term, he made a mind-boggling ten successful tackles.

The midfielder has failed to replicate that sort of display since but he simply has to step up with McGregor still on the sidelines.

Now feels like his time to really make a name for himself in Glasgow.

AND in other news, Ange may fix one of Celtic’s biggest problems by signing “lightning-quick” 43-cap ace…